Total not to exceed $2,938,000
On Feb. 11, in unanimously voting “Yes” on their Consent Agenda of routine business matters, the Sarasota County commissioners approved a Master Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Interlocal Agreement with the Lakewood Ranch Southeast Stewardship District that calls for the county to partially reimburse the District for construction of sewer and reclaimed water pipelines that will serve the District’s residents.
The county’s expense is not to exceed $2,938,000, the agreement points out.
A county memo in the agenda packet for the Feb. 11 meeting, which was conducted in Venice, explains that that District “was established to finance, fund, plan, establish, acquire, construct or reconstruct, enlarge and extend, equip, operate and maintain systems, facilities and infrastructure in conjunction with the development of the lands within District boundaries …”
On Jan. 28, on split votes, the commissioners approved the first rezoning applications for Lakewood Ranch Southeast. Those entailed plans for construction of 1,399 homes on approximately 1,746 acres in three project areas.
Commissioners Mark Smith and Tom Knight cast the “No” votes, saying they believe that the county should have adequate road infrastructure in place to serve new residents of the developments before any construction begins.
The Feb. 11 county staff memo further explained that the Lakewood Ranch Southeast Stewardship District “intends to construct the Master Wastewater and Reclaimed Water System along Lorraine Road, from Palmer Road to Fruitville Road and then east along Fruitville Road to the Lake Park Connector Road … so occupants of each development (residences or commercial improvements) constructed will receive adequate wastewater and reclaimed water service from the County.”
The memo added, “This Interlocal Agreement is for the Fruitville Road segment,” noting that it provides for the county’s partial reimbursement to the District for “approximately 19,000 linear feet of 20-inch force main oversized from an 18-inch force main and approximately 19,000 linear feet of 18-inch reclaimed water main oversized from a 16-inch reclaimed water main necessary to serve District property.”
As the Environmental Protection Agency explains, sewer force mains “are pipelines that convey wastewater under pressure from the discharge side of a pump or pneumatic ejector to a discharge point. Pumps or compressors located in a lift station provide the energy for wastewater conveyance in force mains. … Force mains are used to convey wastewater from a lower to higher elevation, particularly where the elevation of the source is not sufficient for gravity flow and/or the use of gravity conveyance will result in excessive excavation depths and high sewer pipeline construction costs.”
The county staff memo also indicated that the funding for the county’s reimbursement will be covered by customers’ utility rate payments to the county.
Nonetheless, the interlocal agreement explains that the developers will pay capacity fees to the county before connecting to the county’s utility lines. The document explains that a capacity fee is a fee that the County Commission levies “to pay for water, reclaimed water and wastewater infrastructure construction,” as well as other costs associated with linking a new community to the county’s utility system.
The interlocal agreement notes that the wastewater facilities capacity fee is $3,190 per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU), though that could change after the commission adopts its 2026 fiscal year budget, which will come in September. The agreement adds that one water EDU is equal to the use of 250 gallons of water per day, while one wastewater EDU is equal to 200 gallons of wastewater use per day.
“The Future Village Developer is required to pay to the County the applicable rates and fees that are in effect at the time the County issues the building permit,” the agreement explains.
The Feb. 11 county staff memo added that the expense for the sewer force main has been put at $727,000, while the reclaimed water main will cost $2,211,000.
Further, the memo said, “The Interlocal Agreement with Lakewood Ranch Southeast Stewardship District provides that upon the completion of all [its] prerequisites … the District may connect the development’s on-site wastewater collection and reclaimed water facilities installed by the District to the County’s central wastewater and reclaimed water facilities.”
The interlocal agreement includes the statement that “the County is willing to provide wastewater and reclaimed water facilities” and operate them “so the occupants of each development … constructed on the Property will receive adequate wastewater and reclaimed water service from the County.”
Vote No.
Need adequate road infrastructure in place before any construction begins.
Good example of development not paying for itself. Since when are all the Sarasota Residents obligated to pay for infrastructure of a private development?? Especially one that is a Special District–with their own taxing(fee) schedule??
Each commissioner voting for this should be recalled(fired)